For naturally curly heads who go to WDW

[Utfootballdiva]

I'm loving this thread! I have curly fine hair just like the OP and have worried about what it will do while we are at WDW.

I've pretty much convinced myself to just leave it curly and I will either pull it back in a ponytail or ball cap if things get out of control.

I recently bought a GREAT book called Curly Girl. I love it. It has all kinds of tips for us curly girls and let me tell ya, my hair has never looked better. The best tip is to not shampoo daily. Instead while in the shower I condition gently.

I've also started using a product by Design Essentials. It is a leave in conditioner. I use it instead of hair gel while my hair is wet. My curls dry perfectly. I am caucasian and I mention this b/c this product is marketed for ethnic hair. An african-american friend recommended it and I love her for it. It is the best hair product I have ever used!

 

[sardanem]

Hi all. Add me to the very curly, frizzy and unmanageable hair group. I absolutely love my Chi straightener and couldn't live without it, but I don't even think I will bother packing it when we go to Disney in August. I think lots of ponytail holders will take its place(although I look awful with my hair up). Thanks for all the great tips. I am going to look for some of the oroducts mentioned. I am also considering getting it relaxed in a month or 2. It is not the expensive Japanese one. I was told because my hair is so curly, when it starts growing in, I will look silly with curly roots. Anyway, it is good to know I am not alone with my hair difficulties.

Lisa

 

[rt2dz]

I have super curly hair, and I don't straighten it. It is chin length. I 2nd the great stylist, I also use an Aveda person. See if there is an aveda institute (beauty school) in your area.
The key to the cut is to cut it square, at 60 and 90 degree angles. My hair lays "flat", it's never poofy. I do have layers and "bangs" that curl. I part my hair off center.

Please, please, please do not use a student--not even an Aveda one. My stylist is very active (duh) with the Aveda School. He has interns working at his salon (he's the owner) all the time. He makes them stop everything they are doing when I get my hair cut so they can learn. Even other stylists he has hired on in his salon stop and watch him cut my hair whenever possible. My head is a big teaching tool; everyone is always asking questions. Curly hair is so different, even from one curly head to another, and very few people cut it well.

 

[Talking Hands]

I live in Florida and frankly I have given up on my hair staying straight. Short hair and let it curl is my solution. Short doesn't look as frizzy.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I just go with it. No amount of anything will keep my hair straight in humid weather. I wear my Minnie Ears headband and I embrace the curls! I even run my hands through them to plump them up! My dh laughs sometimes because my hair will double in size from the room to the park! It doesn't bother me anymore. I have found that the reason I looked so not cute in some photos wasn't because of my hair. It was because of my body language. You could tell I felt like I looked stupid (with my clown afro!). Once I stopped worrying about it I felt so much better and I looked much happier (because I was) in all photos.

 

[jax677]

I have the same kind of hair and another tip is don't scrub when washing. It seems to start the frizzies. I just gently pull the shampoo thru and follow with other products. Also don't comb or brush it. I can't remember the last time I did that.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

I'm seriously thinking about cutting my hair to chin length. I'd love to get a "bob" (I've seen so many cute bob hairstyles in magazines), but I'm terrified of the dreaded "triangle head" or "mushroom head" (I've had bobs before ... and with disastrous results). Yes, I definitely need a good leave-in conditioner! Morrocan Oil, huh? I'll try anything!
Woohoo for Charlotte! My BIL got married at some hotel in downtown Charlotte. He lives in Harrisburg and he's our Disney travel buddy. We drive from CT to Harrisburg and then continue to Florida a few days later.

Haha!! I know "triangle head."

We get our hair cut at Great Clips. They have a spray for curly hair that controls all the problems you've mentioned. My ds's hair doesn't get longer...it gets bigger. The spray keeps it under control without being sticky or flakey. It's a lime green bottle (appropriate, eh). I wish I could remember the name of the product.

Yes, it is spendy. I paid $15 for the last bottle. The good thing is that he just puts a spritz or two in the palm of one hand and scrunches his hair with it. It doesn't take much!

p.s. I looked last night...it's the Matrix line.

Curl.life? I'm a Matrix stylist!

I have a chi I use sometimes, but I wouldn't even try in Orlando in the summer. I know I'm going to get wet at some point anyway.

Have you thought about Japanese reconditioning? I've been considering it for a long time, but I've been too chicken. The hairdresser sets your hair straight and it's supposed to last until it grows out again.

I've had this done (Matrix Opti.smooth). There are two options with this one, deflate or decurl. It's like a straight perm. It will be straight until it grows out. You do get to deal with curly roots at some point, though. It's very attractive.




Like I mentioned above, I'm a stylist, and I have massive curly, thick, coarse hair. I agree with most of the advice so far. Definitely stretch your shampoos as long as possible. As long as you're not smelly or oily, no need to wash. Condition every day, though!! After shampooing (concentrating on the scalp, not the hair), rinse, and get as much of the water out of your hair as possible. This helps your hair suck in the conditioner rather than the water.
As far as styling, BioSilk Silk Therapy is my stranded-on-a-humid-desert-island must-have!! Matrix Sleek.look shampoo and conditioner are great! Assuming I'd have electricity on my island, my Chi would be next. If you're staying curly, I love Catwalk's Curls Rock Amplifier. Matrix would be so mad at me right now, but I like this line much better than Matrix's Curl.life.
As for dry ends, make an appointment or do an at home deep conditioning twice a month. It will make a world of difference.
As for me, I'll be arriving at MCO with straight hair and a week's supply of Curls Rock. Don't fight it!!

Me after I get hit with humid air--->

 

[mpls_mm]

Are you kidding me!!?? I rocked the mushroom head! It was in my Madonna boy toy phase. I completed it with a day-glo mesh headband and my giant earrings, leggings and jelly sandals. I have not ventured back since.

 

[turtlegirl1]

I did... I know, crazy. But I go through what I like to call the 3 year cycle, just so happens that this 3 yr cycle coincides with WDW! I cut it all off, super short... I swear my stylist "attacks" me with the razor to get the bulk out so it lays down rather than puffing out - I don't think my type of hair (thick, curly, coarse - feels like horse hair) is meant to be this short, so it needs major thinning, but it is SO easy this length... and I swear with all the thinning the curl goes away. It's strange, but I don't mind!

 

[tlbwriter]

I don't bother to straighten my hair at WDW - if the humidity doesn't get it, Splash Mountain will. I just use an anti-frizz serum (Citre Shine) and leave-in conditioner and curl activators (all from the Tigi Curls Rock line) and dry it with a diffuser.

 

[james'mommy]

one time one of my stylists told me to stop using products for curly hair and instead us the straightening one but just scrunch and diffuse. It worked. I wish I could still find the goldwell stuff she sold me on. So I have given up on curly hair special stuff and just try to find things that define.